Decontamination method and apparatus for effluents

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and method for decontamination of effluent, comprising connecting a first ejector to source of a first motive fluid, directing from the first ejector first motive fluid into piping connected to a source of effluent thus causing the effluent to stream in the piping and simultaneously causing the effluent to be heated, and controlling the directing of the first motive fluid in such a way that a predetermined thermal effect is achieved.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention generally relates to decontamination of effluents.The present invention relates to any effluent where heat treatment canreduce or eliminate any undesired effect, such as chemical, physical,biological reaction or activity (pathogen inactivation, proteindenaturing, prion inactivation etc.). In particular, but notexclusively, the present invention relates to decontamination ofeffluent liquid from biologically contaminated areas. The presentinvention can also be used as part of a system for chemical treatment ofeffluents.

BACKGROUND ART

Effluent decontamination is carried out in order to inactivatemicro-organisms—including pathogens—present in liquid effluents fromsources such as research laboratories, pharmaceutical orbiopharmaceutical production plants and further bio-contained areas. Thedecontamination is effected with the principles of sterilization, i.e.high temperature is applied for a sufficient time to achieve a reductionof microbial load. A skilled person appreciates that the principles ofsterilization are in an embodiment applied for other purposes as toliving micro-organisms, such as prion inactivation.

Decontamination is traditionally carried out in static conditions in socalled kill tanks, i.e. the liquid effluent is placed in a tank, heated,and maintained under a certain temperature for a certain time.Subsequently, the liquid is cooled and discharged into a drain.Validation of a static decontamination process is challenging, as thetemperature distribution may be compromised due to various reasons suchas air pouches and type of heating. Furthermore, kill tanks, beingpressure vessels, require regular inspection, and their energyrequirements and space requirements are large.

Dynamic decontamination systems, wherein the effluents are treated as acontinuous stream are known. In a continuous system, the bio-waste, i.e.the effluent, is first collected into a storage tank, and thencontinuously heated under pressure using various techniques, prior tocooling and draining. Since the liquid effluent comprises contaminantssuch as organic matter and scaling agents, a continuous decontaminationsystem has the drawback that the heating arrangements tend to soil theinner surfaces of the system with a contaminant layer. Thus frequentchemical washing is required.

Direct injection of steam into the effluent has been used for exampleinstead of electrical heating or heat exchangers in order to overcomesome drawbacks related to the contaminants present in the effluent. Suchsystems are less sensitive to for example organic contaminants butrequire that the effluent is under pressure, i.e. a pump is required.

Accordingly, the existing systems have several drawbacks. Theperformance of the static systems is difficult to validate, and thesystems are expensive as well as time- and energy inefficient. Thenagain, the continuous systems may require frequent chemical cleaning,for example due to heating arrangements and very long piping runs, andinclude moving parts prone to fault and requiring service. Continuoussystems also commonly include a feedback to the contaminated effluentsfor the heat-up phase of the system or in case of failure. This branchis a contamination risk in itself, and adds complexity to the system.

Decontamination systems are commonly critical to a continuing productionof a facility. Accordingly, the object of the invention is to mitigatethe problems of the existing technology and to provide a cost-effective,scalable, safe and easily validated decontamination.

SUMMARY

According to a first example aspect of the invention there is providedan apparatus for decontamination of effluent, comprising

a first inlet configured to be connected to a source of a first motivefluid;

a second inlet configured to be connected to a source of effluent;

an outlet configured for discharging the effluent

a first ejector configured to direct first motive fluid from the firstinlet into piping connected to the second inlet thus causing theeffluent to stream from the second inlet towards the outlet, andsimultaneously causing the effluent to be heated.

The apparatus may further comprise

a treatment tank positioned between the second inlet and the outlet andconfigured to hold the effluent until a predetermined decontaminationeffect is achieved;

a second ejector configured to cause emptying the treatment tank bydirecting a second motive fluid into piping connecting the treatmenttank to the outlet.

The apparatus may further comprise a third ejector configured to directfirst motive fluid from the first inlet into the stream of effluentdownstream from the first ejector thus causing the effluent to be heatedfurther.

The apparatus may further be configured to cause the effluent to streamfrom the second inlet only in the direction of the outlet so that theeffluent is inhibited from returning to the source of the effluent or tothe second inlet.

The first and/or second motive fluid may comprise at least one of steam,water, liquid, compressed air and gas.

The apparatus may further comprise a first valve for regulating thesupply of the first motive fluid and/or a second valve for regulatingthe supply of the effluent.

The apparatus may further comprise means for measuring the temperatureof the effluent being decontaminated.

The apparatus may further comprise means for heating the effluent in thetreatment tank.

The first ejector may be configured to direct first motive fluid fromthe first inlet into piping connected to the second inlet thus causingthe effluent to stream from the second inlet towards the outlet, andsimultaneously causing the effluent to be cooled.

According to a second example aspect of the invention there is provideda method for decontamination of effluent, comprising

connecting a first ejector to source of a first motive fluid;

directing from the first ejector first motive fluid into pipingconnected to a source of effluent thus causing the effluent to stream inthe piping and simultaneously causing the effluent to be heated; and

controlling the directing of the first motive fluid in such a way that apredetermined thermal effect is achieved.

The method may further comprise holding the effluent in a treatment tankfor a predetermined time at a predetermined temperature; and emptyingthe treatment tank by injecting a second motive fluid into pipingconnecting the treatment tank to the outlet.

The method may further comprise directing first motive fluid from athird ejector into the stream of effluent downstream from the firstejector thus causing the effluent to be heated further.

The directing of the first motive fluid may be done in such a way as toinhibit the effluent from returning to the source of the effluent.

The method may further comprise measuring the temperature of theeffluent being decontaminated.

The method may further comprise leak testing, air removal, and/orevacuation prior to causing the effluent to flow in the piping.

The directing may comprise directing from the first ejector first motivefluid into piping connected to a source of effluent thus causing theeffluent to stream in the piping and simultaneously causing the effluentto be cooled.

Different non-binding example aspects and embodiments of the presentinvention have been illustrated in the foregoing. The above embodimentsare used merely to explain selected aspects or steps that may beutilized in implementations of the present invention. Some embodimentsmay be presented only with reference to certain example aspects of theinvention. It should be appreciated that corresponding embodiments mayapply to other example aspects as well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Some example embodiments of the invention will be described withreference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic example presentation of an apparatus accordingto an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a schematic example presentation of an apparatus accordingto a further embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 shows a schematic example presentation of an apparatus accordingto a still further embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of theinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, like reference signs denote like elements.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic example presentation of an apparatus accordingto an embodiment of the invention. The effluent decontaminationapparatus 100 comprises a first inlet A configured to connect to asupply of motive fluid, such as steam, and a second inlet B configuredto connect to a source of effluent, e.g. biological effluent, to bedecontaminated. The apparatus 100 further comprises an outlet C fordischarging the treated, i.e. decontaminated effluent into for example adrain. A skilled person appreciates that the inlets and the outlet arerealized in a conventional manner, and that the source of the effluentis either a direct connection to a process of the facility the effluentof which is processed or the effluent is supplied from an intermediatestorage such as a storage container or a transport vessel. Furthermore,the skilled person appreciates that instead of or in addition to adirect connection to a drain system the outlet of the decontaminatedeffluent is configured to connect to an intermediate storage such as astorage container or a transport vessel, or the outlet is for exampleconfigured to connect to a further treatment system. The effluentdecontamination apparatus 100 further comprises piping connecting theelements described hereinbefore and hereinafter.

The effluent decontamination apparatus 100 comprises an ejector 2, orfirst ejector, configured to inject steam into the effluent stream. Inan example embodiment, the motive fluid comprises, instead of or inaddition to steam, hot water, a further hot liquid or hot gas, or anextremely cold liquid such as liquid nitrogen, in which case the thermaleffect will be caused by freezing instead of heating. The ejector 2,a.k.a. injector, steam ejector, steam injector, eductor-jet pump orthermocompressor, is supplied with hot steam from the steam inlet A. Theejector 2 works as a conventional ejector, i.e. directs or injects amotive fluid, for example steam from the first inlet into the piping,i.e. into the effluent stream if the piping is filled with effluent, andthe steam functions as a motive fluid causing the effluent to be suckedfrom the effluent inlet A. As the motive fluid, e.g. steam, mixes withthe effluent, the effluent is heated to a predetermined temperaturerequired to achieve the desired thermal effect, i.e. a reduction ofmicrobial load. The flow velocity of the effluent is dependent on thedesign parameters of the ejector 2. A skilled person appreciates thatthe flow velocity of the effluent, and consequently the steam pressureand the design of the ejector, is chosen in such a way as to ensure thatthe effluent remains in the decontamination apparatus for a timesufficient for the desired thermal effect, i.e. decontamination. Asheating, or in an embodiment cooling i.e. freezing, of the effluentsoccurs in a very short time period, the micro-organisms are subjected toa thermal shock in the ejector, which in itself in an embodiment issufficient to achieve the desired decontamination effect.

The passing of the motive fluid, for example steam, through the ejector2 creates a local vacuum allowing the effluent liquid to be sucked intothe local vacuum and dispersed into droplets that are mixed with thesteam. Thus the effluent is heated without the use of hot surfaces andunder negative pressure. As any constituents of the effluent, such asproteins and scaling agents are instantaneously heated without contactto the surfaces, any precipitation is transported with the stream ofeffluents and is removed from the system therewith. The high velocity ofthe fluids in the ejector, and downstream therefrom, also preventsclogging. Accordingly, the apparatus 100 according to the invention ishighly resistant to clogging.

The apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the invention furthercomprises a valve, or a first valve, 1 configured to regulate the supplyof the motive fluid, e.g. steam, and a valve 7, or a second valve,configured to regulate the suction, i.e. the supply, of the effluent. Itshould be noted that the valves 1,7 are conventional valves configuredfor regulating a flow of a substance. Furthermore, in order to monitorthe decontamination and the conditions, the apparatus 100 comprises atemperature probe, or a first temperature probe, 3 configured to measurethe temperature of the effluent at the outlet of the ejector 2. Askilled person appreciates that any conventional temperature probe, suchas a resistive sensor or a thermocouple, can be used as the firsttemperature probe 3. Furthermore, in an embodiment, a furthertemperature probe (not shown) is provided downstream of the firsttemperature probe in order to monitor that the desired thermal effecthas been achieved.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic example presentation of an apparatus accordingto a further embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 200 comprises,as described with reference to the apparatus of FIG. 1, a first inlet Aconfigured to connect to a steam supply and a second inlet B configuredto connect to a source of biological effluent to be decontaminated andan outlet C for discharging the treated, i.e. decontaminated effluentinto for example a drain. The apparatus 200 further comprises a thirdinlet C configured to connect to a supply of motive fluid such as steam,compressed air, a further gas, water or a further liquid. The effluentdecontamination apparatus 200 further comprises piping connecting theelements described hereinbefore and hereinafter.

The apparatus 200 further comprises, as also described hereinbefore withreference to FIG. 1, a first ejector 2 configured to inject a motivefluid, such as steam, into the effluent stream, a first valve 1configured to regulate the supply of the motive fluid, e.g. steam, and asecond valve 7 configured to regulate the suction, i.e. the supply, ofthe effluent, and a temperature probe, or a first temperature probe, 3configured to measure the temperature of the effluent at the outlet ofthe ejector 2.

The apparatus 200 comprises a treatment tank 4 configured to hold theeffluent until the desired, i.e. predetermined thermal effect, i.e. thepredetermined decontamination effect, is achieved, i.e. for apredetermined time in a predetermined temperature or at varyingtemperatures until the desired thermal effect has been achieved. Thetreatment tank 4 is heated in a conventional manner. The apparatus 200further comprises a second temperature probe 5 configured to measure thetemperature of the effluent in the treatment tank 4, and a pressureprobe 6 configured to measure the pressure in the treatment tank 4. Thetemperature probe 5 and the pressure probe 6 are of conventional type,as also hereinbefore described. In an embodiment, the apparatuscomprises a treatment tank 4 with a single connection to effluent pipingconfigured to function both as an inlet and an outlet for effluent. In afurther embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the treatment tank comprises aninlet and an outlet configured to allow the effluent to flow through thetreatment tank 4 continuously or intermittently.

In an example embodiment, the first 3 and the second 5 temperatureprobes, and any further temperature probes as described hereinbefore orhereinafter, comprise probes with dual sensing elements in order toensure that a desired temperature effect has been applied. The readingsof the dual sensing elements are in an embodiment compared to each otherand need both to reside inside a predetermined range. In an embodiment,should one of the readings reside outside a predetermined range, thesystem is stopped and no effluent can exit the system. In a furtherexample embodiment, the second temperature probe 5 is read by a safeprogrammable logic controller providing a safety integrity level 2 forthe system.

The apparatus 200 further comprises a second ejector, or exhaustejector, 10 configured to cause emptying of the treatment tank 4 byinjecting a motive fluid into piping connecting the treatment tank 4 tothe outlet C, i.e. to the effluent stream if the piping is alreadyfilled with effluent, thus causing the decontaminated effluent to beejected through outlet C as hereinbefore described. The second ejector10 functions as a conventional ejector, and similarly to the firstejector 2 as hereinbefore described. The motive fluid is supplied to thesecond ejector 10 through inlet D and comprises e.g. steam, water, afurther liquid, compressed air or a further gas. The apparatus 200further comprises a drain valve, or third valve, 8 configured to alloweffluents to be removed from the storage tank 4 therethrough, and anisolation valve, or fourth valve, 9 configured to regulate the supply ofmotive fluid from inlet D. It should again be noted that the valves 8,9are conventional valves configured for regulating a flow of a substance.

In a further embodiment, the second ejector 10 is further configured tocause evacuating the piping of the apparatus prior to introducingcontaminated effluent therein. Accordingly, the problems in validatingthe decontamination caused by air pockets and uneven temperaturedistribution are mitigated. Furthermore, the second ejector isconfigured to evacuate the piping in order to test the apparatus forsafety, as the evacuation requires all parts of the apparatus to beintact.

In a further embodiment, the second ejector 10 is connected to a hotfluid, e.g. steam, as motive fluid, an additional thermaldecontamination effect can be given, thus creating consecutive thermalshocks to the micro-organisms. In such a case, the second ejector 10functions in a manner similar to the first ejector also in view of theheating of the effluent. In a still further embodiment, severalapparatuses according to an embodiment of the invention are connected inseries until the desired thermal effect is reached.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic example presentation of an apparatus accordingto a still further embodiment of the invention. The apparatus 300comprises, as described with reference to the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and2, an inlet A configured to connect to a steam supply and an inlet Bconfigured to connect to a source of biological effluent to bedecontaminated, an outlet C, and an inlet D configured to connect to asupply of motive fluid such as stem, compressed air or water. Theeffluent decontamination apparatus 300 further comprises pipingconnecting the elements described hereinbefore and hereinafter.

The apparatus 300 also comprises, as also described hereinbefore withreference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first ejector 2 configured to inject amotive fluid, e.g. steam, into the effluent stream. It is to be notedthat the injection of the motive fluid causes the effluent to be suckedfrom the source thereof and, accordingly, no separate pump is needed forpumping the effluent. The apparatus 300 further comprises, as alsodescribed hereinbefore with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a first valve 1configured to regulate the steam supply and a second valve 7 configuredto regulate the suction, i.e. the supply, of the effluent, and a firsttemperature probe, 3 configured to measure the temperature of theeffluent at the outlet of the ejector 2. The apparatus 300 alsocomprises, as hereinbefore described, a treatment tank 4 configured tohold the effluent until the desired thermal effect, a second temperatureprobe 5 configured to measure the temperature of the effluent in thetreatment tank 4, and a pressure probe 6 configured to measure thepressure in the treatment tank 4.

The apparatus 300 also comprises, as also described hereinbefore withreference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a second ejector, or exhaust ejector, 10configured to cause emptying the treatment tank 4, a drain valve, orthird valve, 8 configured to allow effluents to be removed from thestorage tank 4 therethrough, and an isolation valve, or fourth valve, 9configured to regulate the supply of motive fluid from inlet D. In anembodiment, the second ejector 10 is not used during operation of theapparatus 300. In an embodiment, the second ejector is used to removeair from the piping and to test the apparatus for leaks. In a stillfurther embodiment, the outlet C has a pressure regulated isolationvalve (not shown) that will let out effluents under pressure. A skilledperson appreciates that effluent outlet flow control and treatment tank4 pressure control are implemented in an embodiment or in differentcombinations of embodiments using further means known in the art.

The apparatus 300 further comprises a third ejector 11 configured toinject a motive fluid into the piping, i.e. into the stream of effluentsdownstream from the first ejector 2 in order to heat the effluent to bedecontaminated further. The third ejector injects a motive fluid, suchas steam, into effluent stream under pressure, thereby raising thetemperature of the effluent to the desired level. A skilled personappreciates that also an extremely cold liquid may be used in anembodiment as hereinbefore described with reference to the firstejector. The third ejector 11 allows the effluent stream to be heatedfurther, and accordingly, the effluent decontamination process iscarried out continuously also for effluents requiring longer exposure toheat or higher temperature. The apparatus 300 further comprises a fifthvalve 12 configured to regulate the supply of motive fluid, e.g. steam,to the third ejector 11, and to isolate the third ejector from themotive fluid, e.g. steam supply, should the available pressure beinsufficient for both the first and the third ejector to provide thenecessary heating and flow, and also for leak tests in an embodiment.Furthermore, in an embodiment, the third ejector 11 is connected to afurther source of motive fluid (not shown) separate from the firstsource of motive fluid and configured to supply the same or differenttype of motive fluid from that of the first source of motive fluid.

In an example embodiment, the apparatus 100,200,300 comprises, insteador in addition to the second valve 7 and the third valve 8, doublevalves between which the motive fluid, e.g. steam is injected at apressure higher than that of the contaminated side in order to ensureleaktightness in a situation in which the pressure is higher on thecontaminated side than on the non-contaminated side. In such asituation, the double valves ensure that should any leak occur, it willbe towards the contaminated side. In an embodiment, the double valveswith the steam injection therebetween are used at the effluent inletline when using vacuum to test for leaks as hereinafter described and/orat the effluent outlet line when filling the system with effluent thatis not yet treated fully.

In an example embodiment, the whole apparatus 100,200,300 and/or theeventual storage tanks upstream of the apparatus 100,200,300 aredecontaminated using the motive fluid, such as steam, injected from thefirst 2, second 10, or third 11 ejector. In an example embodiment, thedecontamination of the effluents, and of the apparatus 100,200,300 iscarried out without any steam traps, which increases operational safetyand reduces complexity of the installation of the decontaminationapparatus 100,200,300.

It is to be noted, that the apparatus 100,200,300 according to anembodiment of the invention comprises and requires no feedbackconnection towards the contaminated effluents, i.e. back to the effluentstorage or to the inlet B, as the start-up phase is totallyself-enclosed. In a further example embodiment, the effluents undertreatment are automatically led back to the infeed line, i.e. to theeffluent storage or to the inlet B, if the treatment process has failed,for example if the desired temperature effect has not been reached, inorder to decontaminate the apparatus 100,200,300. The decontaminationapparatus 100,200,300 is in an embodiment controlled manually, e.g. bymanually adjusting the valves, the heating etc. In a further embodiment,the apparatus 100,200,300 is controlled by for example a microprocessorbased automatic control unit (not shown in FIGS. 1-3) that is eitherintegrated into the apparatus or provide as a separate unit connected tothe apparatus e.g. through a wired or wireless connection.

FIG. 4 shows a flowchart of a method according to an embodiment of theinvention. At step 410, preparatory actions are carried out. In anembodiment, a leak test is carried out for the apparatus 100,200,300 byevacuating the piping using the second ejector 10. A skilled personappreciates that the apparatus 100, in an embodiment, also comprises asecond ejector 10. In a further embodiment, air is removed from theapparatus by evacuating and/or with pulses of motive fluid, such asteam. In a still further embodiment, the apparatus 100,200,300 isevacuated prior to start-up phase 420.

At step 420 a start-up of the apparatus is carried out. Depending on thecomposition of the apparatus 100,200,300 and the preparatory stepspreviously taken, the start-up comprises starting the first ejector 2and letting the effluents into the piping in a predetermined order. Inan embodiment, the effluents are directed to a pre-evacuated treatmenttank 4 prior to starting the first ejector 2.

At step 430 motive fluid is directed, i.e. injected, into the effluentpiping in order to heat the effluent and to cause the effluent to flowin the piping as hereinbefore described, the following steps of heat-up440, treatment 450 and draining 460 are carried out continuously ashereinbefore described and controlled in such a way that a desiredthermal effect is achieved. In an example embodiment, the thermal effectF(0) is calculated with the formula of

F(0)=Σ(t=0 to n) eEXP[(T−121)/Z]

wherein t is time, T is the treatment temperature and Z is amicro-organism dependent sensitivity to increased temperature, normallyaccepted as 10° C., i.e. a 10° C. increase results in a 10-fold killingeffect.

In the following, an empirical example of the operation of an apparatus200 according to an embodiment of the invention is presented: Thetreatment tank 4 has a fill volume of about 20 liters. Saturated, drysteam of 3.5 bar(g) is used as motive fluid for the first and the secondejector 2, 10. A vacuum test is carried out at −0.8 bar(g) (200 mB) for10 minutes, with less than a 13 mB rise in pressure. Three vacuum/steampulses −0.8/+1.5 bar(g) are used at initial heat up. After pressurepulse, the apparatus is evacuated to 0 Bar(g) to wait for a startsignal. At start, initial vacuum pulse of −0.8 bar(g), then opening ofthe effluent valve 7 followed by the steam valve 1. Effluent and steamare regulated so that the temperature at 3 is about 85-90° C. Afterfilling (20 liters) of the treatment tank 4, the effluent valve 7 isclosed and the heating continued. Heating temperature was set at 140° C.Thermal effect was set at 50*. After thermal effect is reached, drainvalve is opened until pressure 0 bar(g). End of cycle is reached with atotal cycle time of 5.5 minutes. Hourly treatment capacity is thus 220liters/hour.

Without in any way restricting the scope of the invention defined by theappended claims, a technical effect of the invention is to provide aflexible decontamination apparatus and method, wherein the treatmentcapacity, thermal effect and the duration of decontamination can beeasily selected and adjusted. Another technical effect of the inventionis to provide a decontamination apparatus and method that avoidsclogging and soiling of the system. Still another technical effect ofthe invention is to provide an apparatus less prone to mechanicalfailure due to less moving parts. A further technical effect of theinvention is to provide increased operational safety due to simple leaktesting.

The foregoing description has provided by way of non-limiting examplesof particular implementations and embodiments of the invention a fulland informative description of the best mode presently contemplated bythe inventors for carrying out the invention. It is however clear to aperson skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted todetails of the embodiments presented above, but that it can beimplemented in other embodiments using equivalent means or in differentcombinations of embodiments without deviating from the characteristicsof the invention.

Furthermore, some of the features of the above-disclosed embodiments ofthis invention may be used to advantage without the corresponding use ofother features. As such, the foregoing description shall be consideredas merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention, andnot in limitation thereof. Hence, the scope of the invention is onlyrestricted by the appended claims.

1. An apparatus for decontamination of effluent, comprising a firstinlet (A) configured to be connected to a source of a first motivefluid; a second inlet (B) configured to be connected to a source ofeffluent; an outlet (C) configured for discharging the effluent; a firstejector (2) configured to direct first motive fluid from the first inlet(A) into piping connected to the second inlet (B) thus causing theeffluent to stream from the second inlet (B) towards the outlet (C), andsimultaneously causing the effluent to be heated.
 2. The apparatus ofclaim 1, further comprising a treatment tank (4) positioned between thesecond inlet (A) and the outlet (C) and configured to hold the effluentuntil a predetermined decontamination effect is achieved; a secondejector (10) configured to cause emptying the treatment tank (4) bydirecting a second motive fluid into piping connecting the treatmenttank (4) to the outlet (C).
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 or 2, furthercomprising a third ejector (12) configured to direct first motive fluidfrom the first inlet (A) into the stream of effluent downstream from thefirst ejector thus causing the effluent to be heated further.
 4. Theapparatus of claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the apparatus is configured tocause the effluent to stream from the second inlet (B) only in thedirection of the outlet (C) so that the effluent is inhibited fromreturning to the source of the effluent or to the second inlet.
 5. Theapparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the first and/or second motivefluid comprises at least one of steam, water, liquid, compressed air andgas.
 6. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein the apparatusfurther comprises a first valve (1) for regulating the supply of thefirst motive fluid and/or a second valve (7) for regulating the supplyof the effluent.
 7. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein theapparatus further comprises means (3) for measuring the temperature ofthe effluent being decontaminated.
 8. The apparatus of any of the claims2 to 7 further comprising means for heating the effluent in thetreatment tank (4).
 9. The apparatus of any preceding claim, wherein thefirst ejector (2) is configured to direct first motive fluid from thefirst inlet (A) into piping connected to the second inlet (B) thuscausing the effluent to stream from the second inlet (B) towards theoutlet (C), and simultaneously causing the effluent to be cooled.
 10. Amethod for decontamination of effluent, comprising connecting a firstejector (2) to source of a first motive fluid; directing from the firstejector (2) first motive fluid into piping connected to a source ofeffluent thus causing the effluent to stream in the piping andsimultaneously causing the effluent to be heated; and controlling thedirecting of the first motive fluid in such a way that a predeterminedthermal effect is achieved.
 11. The method of claim 10 furthercomprising holding the effluent in a treatment tank (4) for apredetermined time at a predetermined temperature; and emptying thetreatment tank (4) by injecting a second motive fluid into pipingconnecting the treatment tank (4) to the outlet.
 12. The method of claim10 or 11 further comprising directing first motive fluid from a thirdejector (12) into the stream of effluent downstream from the firstejector (2) thus causing the effluent to be heated further.
 13. Themethod of claim 10, 11 or 12 wherein directing the first motive fluid isdone in such a way as to inhibit the effluent from returning to thesource of the effluent.
 14. The method of any preceding claim furthercomprising measuring the temperature of the effluent beingdecontaminated.
 15. The method of any preceding claim further comprisingleak testing, air removal, and/or evacuation prior to causing theeffluent to flow in the piping.
 16. The method of any preceding claim,wherein the directing comprises directing from the first ejector (2)first motive fluid into piping connected to a source of effluent thuscausing the effluent to stream in the piping and simultaneously causingthe effluent to be cooled.